"Damascus, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, holds profound significance in both Christian and Muslim scriptures. Christians revere it as the site of Paul the Apostle’s conversion, while Muslims associate it with prophecies and Islamic scholarship," Swain emphasised. "Iconic landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque [known as the Great Mosque] and the Chapel of Saint Paul are irreplaceable cultural symbols. Their destruction would mean the permanent loss of a shared human history, depriving future generations of essential connections to their spiritual and historical roots."
"Yet again, Julani wants to present a new image to the world for acceptance, so there are fewer chances that he would destroy any historical and cultural heritage. Julani aims to rule without repeating the mistakes that ISIS made during their brief period of control. No other Islamist groups or various rebel factions have the capability to destroy Syrian cultural heritage, nor do any foreign forces have the intention to strike those sites," the expert highlighted.
"Regarding Syria's historical and cultural richness, the destruction of heritage sites has been catastrophic. What remains after ISIS' brutality is now under threat from other jihadist terrorist groups, which continue to target and destroy historical monuments. This is not just a loss for Syria, but a tragedy for all of humanity," he said.